Surety Bond News

Connecticut mortgage brokers, lenders and originators must abide by a revised bond amount requirement. The new bill is titled SB 1110 and modifies the current licensing laws for mortgage lenders, brokers and originators. Previous legislation required a minimum $40,000 surety bond. SB 1110 requires the bond amount to mirror the licensee’s loan origination volume. The new bill requires mortgage lenders and correspondent mortgage lenders to obtain a minimum $100,000 surety bond and mortgage brokers must acquire a minimum $50,000 bond.

Several public officials in the state of Utah no longer need to worry about surety bonds. The new bill, labeled HB 40, terminates multiple public official bond requirements and allows certain officials to be covered under the State’s Risk Management Fund. Make sure to check with the state to find out which public officials are included in this bill.

Texas debt management service providers must follow new surety legislation. The new law is titled SB 141 and requires debt management service providers to obtain a surety bond in a quantity equivalent to the average daily balance of the trust account holding funds for Texas consumers over a six-month period before the bond is issued. SB 141 states that the initial surety bond must be $50,000 if the provider doesn’t hold money paid by a consumer for distribution to creditors. The new law also requires the surety who writes the bond to be “A-” rated from a nationally known rating service.

South Dakota enacted a new bill concerning grain warehouseman. The new bill is named HB 1016 and declares that claims can only be made against a grain warehouseman or grain buyer’s bond if the individual informs the Public Utilities Commission, which must specify that it’s not taking an action against the surety bond.

Surplus line brokers are affected by revised surety law in Rhode Island. The new law is named SB 758/HB 5953 and modifies the surety bond requirements for surplus line brokers so that it pertains only to resident surplus line brokers.